Faith Karnauhova:
Which part you played is the most important or special for you? Which of them changed your view of life?

Ellen Dubin:
I always love working. So when I work,that is always the special role at that particular time. But I would have to say, Giggerota the Wicked in LEXX has a special place in my heart. It began my love of fan support and also put me on the map as an actor in the world of science fiction which I really started to embrace because there are so many fabulous roles for women. At the time, I had no clue the power of LEXX and all the fans worldwide that loved the show and embraced our characters. I did my work and then once it aired, I was so touched by the fan response and their incredible loyalty.
When we shot the final episode APOCALEXX NOW in Thailand, that was an extraordinary experience for me. Not only did I get to be in a very unique episode of the show but work in Thailand. That was a magical life changing trip for me -both on a work level and personal level. To experience a culture that is so different from my own and meet incredible people was just so beyond belief. Love it so much! Will never forget it. An important milestone in my life!
I also love working in the theater. From when I started on stage as a ballet dancer to the first play I did called A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN ,all really changed my view of life. The power of theater to heal and make people feel really affected me. When you work on stage you can see and hear the audience react whether in comedy or drama — you can actually feel their breath and hear their reactions. It is a beautiful experience to be at one with your audience. So magical!

Yulia Shcherbakova:

What is your idea of how Giggerota turned a sinner? What was the reason – her abnormal unhuman nature or immoral way of life?

Ellen Dubin:
What is your idea of how Giggerota turned a sinner? What was the reason – her abnormal unhuman nature or immoral way of life?
Yulia, when an actor portrays a character that appears to the audience as a sinner, or evil etc. — the character does not know he or she is a sinner or not. They just go about their business living their lives. They don’t consider themselves bad or morally corrupt. They focus on what they believe is right but some like Giggerota don’t even think that way. And as an actor, we have to focus on our role and play what the writers give us with full on commitment to their words and actions of that particular character.Giggerota did not think her life was abnormal. We may find her actions sinful, but she doesn’t. And actors in order to convince the audience have to imagine positive reasons for their actions.

Aleksey Zhivkov:
What do you think Giggerota felt when she was left alone on Brunnis before the supernova explosion?

Ellen Dubin:
What do you think Giggerota felt when she was left alone on Brunnis before the supernova explosion?
Alexsey, I don’t think Giggerota even thought about that. She was not a very deep thinking alien. Once she saw the supernova in the sky approaching, she thought it would be a fun wild ride and enjoy it. And that’s why she screamed : «Put on a show for Giggerta the Wicked!». She is going to go out in a blaze of glory and be defiant to the end!

Stas Mironenko:
How were you cast for the part of Giggerota? What was your first impression of the script?

Ellen Dubin:
How were you cast for the part of Giggerota? What was your first impression of the script?
Stas, I was cast by doing an audition. I will never forget it! When I was driving over to the audition, I thought to myself: «what am I doing? I have no clue what this is about and what I am going to do?». I almost wanted to go back home because the material was so eclectic and weird when I first read it. The script they gave everyone, no matter what part we auditioned for, was a monologue that eventually Stanley Tweedle said about women on a planet. I just remember that I had no clue what was going on. But all the actors at the first meeting were in the same boat so I just made some strong choices with the monologue they gave us and dove.
No one knew what the show was really about. So when I went into the audition I was talking about beautiful women on a planet. So I made it very sexy and committed a hundred percent to this unusual dialogue.
Then I went for a callback and they gave me some dialogue that was Giggerota’s. What I do remember was putting my foot up against the wall and spreading my arms out like a huge praying mantis. I was able to physically convey the character as well as emotionally. And I remember just having fabulous time auditioning for the show’s creator Paul Donovan. And the rest is LEXX history…………Loved creating a new memorable unusual character from the ground up!

Alexey Polyakov:
Whom of LEXX actors are you on romantic, good or business terms with? Which LEXX season do you like most/least?

Ellen Dubin:
Whom of LEXX actors are you on romantic, good or business terms with? Which LEXX season do you like most/least?
Ha Alexey, no romance on set. I did my work and so did everyone else. But have kept some lifelong friends for sure.
The wonderful thing about acting is you get to meet so many people along the way and even if you live in different countries, emails and social media are so handy to keep in touch with people.
I keep in touch with Xenia who played Xev , Patricia who played Bunny, Rolf who played President, Brian who played Stanely. Now and then I will send a quick hello to Prince played by Nigel on facebook and Louise who plays Lyekka.
I loved every season of LEXX as an actor and was fortunate as the character of Giggerota to be reincarnated for all four seasons- a highly unusual role. I think every season had wonderful plot lines for the audience, as well. I don’t think any season disappointed.

Aleksey Zhivkov:
Were you allowed to adlib while playing your part? If so, what did you add to the screen story?

Ellen Dubin:
The scripts were so brilliant that I didn’t need to ad-lib much. The chemistry was so amazing in the casting of the actors, that sometimes it did appear to be off the cuff very natural type of dialogue. That said, when I did play QUEEN — I shot in a bunker in Germany that was freezing cold and I was immersed in warm water in a big hot tub wearing a huge heavy headdress and black wig and wore a scuba suit with a weight belt to keep me down in the water — because, if you remember, that character did not have a body — only a bobbing head . I didn’t want to get out of the water. so stayed in it for several hours without eating and drinking-. I didn’t want to go to the washroom because it was snowing outside and wanted to keep as warm as possible. So after awhile I got so tired, I started ad-libbing songs and sounding a bit crazy- and they kept my songs. And I repeated them over and over and that is also in the final cut of the show. That was absolutely hilarious to do and watch. One of my favorite scenes even though physically demanding that added to the screen story.
What do you think of the authors’ jest about Catholic Church (when Giggerota represented the Pope)? Which confession do you belong to if any?
Paul Donovan, our brilliant show creator, wrote material with Lex Gigeroff that could be taken many ways. On the surface, the show could be seen as a ship of misfits going on different adventures. But every show had some hidden symbolism. He made various comments about politics, religion, love etc. The brilliance of LEXX is that both children and adults could watch and see very different things in the show. Lots of double entendres.
So in the episode APOCALEXX NOW ( which was also a spoof of the huge film classic APOCALYPSE NOW), the writers were making comments about how a religion ( any religion) can be extreme and people can become obsessed with it. So he had the Pope fixated on the game of golf. He was poking fun at world religions and how people can get so caught up in them.
I am a spiritual person and believe in the power of family and love. And caring for everyone you meet without judgement no matter what color , race or religion they are.

Maxim Blinov:
Why is Giggerota a queen whereas the ruler of the Fire planet is a prince?

Ellen Dubin:
Maxim, because Women Rule! LOL!

Aleksey Zhivkov:
Do you know the origin of your name -Ellen?

Ellen Dubin:
Aleksey, Giggerota means «liver eater» which is so appropriate for a cannibal. But it was also a take off on one of the writers names Lex Gigeroff.
If you are asking about my name Ellen, that means Courage.
As a side note, I always look up the meaning of my name when I play a part, sometimes it is a clue as to the character I am doing. I like to do research like that. I find it fascinating.

Zyf G:
Were there any funny episodes on the movie set? Could you tell us any?

Ellen Dubin:

Zyf, Brian Downey as Stanley Tweedle used to make us laugh so hard just by being that character. There were many times, I would have to bite my tongue and be so focused, so as not to laugh when the camera was rolling.
A weird thing for me as Giggerota ,was that no one wanted to eat lunch with me. The first costume I wore was made of a thick rubber latex material. It had a very bad smell. So I would always have to stay far way from the cast and crew. Everyone would laugh and make fun of the smell of the outfit and say » You eat lunch far far away!»
So glad after season one that the wardrobe department gave me a sleeker fitting better smelling outfit made out of buckskin suede and then I could join my cast and crew and eat .
The other funny thing about that first jumpsuit was that in the scene where I come out of the water- it literally started following apart- chunks of rubber were coming off during the filming. I could see everyone giggling and holding in their laughter till the scene was finished. I looked like such a mess- like a drowned rat- with pieces of rubber missing. Hilarious!!!

Also want everyone to know, that we all miss LEXX very much and wish we could do a follow up show.